Journalist….Photographer…..Author

If you’ve had some narrow escapes on the highway, you’ll know how this young Australian man felt – trapped in a car that had taken on a mind of its own.

It needed just a touch on the brakes to disengage the cruise control on his 4×4. Or so 22-year-old Chase Weir thought as he neared his motorway exit.

But when he tapped his foot on the brake pedal nothing happened. The car carried on at 50mph. He tried again, but still it sped on.

In fact, it kept going for 25miles as Chase frantically thumped his foot on the brake pedal, yanked on the handbrake and tried to turn off the engine with the ignition key.

It seemed that only a crash would stop the car and Chase, weaving in and out of city traffic, honking his horn and flashing his lights at other vehicles, became convinced he was going to die.

For 30 minutes, with the help of police, he was able to keep hurtling along. Then he was confronted by the sight he dreaded most – a traffic jam.

He swerved, pulled on the handbrake and stood on the brake pedal.

After what seemed an eternity of screeching he bumped across a traffic island and came to halt inches from another car.

‘I really thought I was dead,’ he said. ‘When the police opened the door and asked if I was OK I have never screamed as much in my life.’

Chase had flicked a switch on his Ford Explorer 4×4 to engage the cruise control when he joined the fast Eastern Freeway leaving Melbourne.

A touch of the brake or accelerator pedal should have put the car back into manual drive.

But when his slip road came up, the cruise control failed to disengage.

Chase’s terrifying journey led him through the streets of Melbourne to the suburb of Frankston, and now he had the police to help him after a frantic emergency call.

A van was despatched to get in front of him and, with sirens blaring, ensured that vehicles ahead were moved to other lanes.

His biggest fear as he struggled with the controls was what lay ahead.

Eventually he did run out of motorway and ended up in the suburb of Frankston.

Aided by his police escort, he passed through a busy road junction before reaching another highway – and the traffic jam.

‘There was traffic in every lane,’ he said. ‘I just didn’t just have anywhere to go.

‘I just put all my weight on that footbrake, pulled on the handbrake again, swerved on the wrong side of the road to avoid running into the back of everyone, went over the concrete road island and bounced a bit.

‘I could hear the tyres skidding on the road for what seemed like for ever.

‘When I opened my eyes, I was bonnet-to- bonnet with the car in front of me.’

Chase was taken to hospital suffering from shock.

The Explorer is sold in the U.S. and Australia.

A Ford Australia spokesman said the frozen cruise control was not an issue the company had encountered before.

Chase tells his story after his ordeal. Pic: Channel Nine

If you’ve had some narrow escapes on the highway, you’ll know how this young Australian man felt – trapped in a car that had taken on a mind of its own.

It needed just a touch on the brakes to disengage the cruise control on his 4×4. Or so 22-year-old Chase Weir thought as he neared his motorway exit.

But when he tapped his foot on the brake pedal nothing happened. The car carried on at 50mph. He tried again, but still it sped on.

In fact, it kept going for 25miles as Chase frantically thumped his foot on the brake pedal, yanked on the handbrake and tried to turn off the engine with the ignition key.

It seemed that only a crash would stop the car and Chase, weaving in and out of city traffic, honking his horn and flashing his lights at other vehicles, became convinced he was going to die.

For 30 minutes, with the help of police, he was able to keep hurtling along. Then he was confronted by the sight he dreaded most – a traffic jam.

He swerved, pulled on the handbrake and stood on the brake pedal.

After what seemed an eternity of screeching he bumped across a traffic island and came to halt inches from another car.

‘I really thought I was dead,’ he said. ‘When the police opened the door and asked if I was OK I have never screamed as much in my life.’

Chase had flicked a switch on his Ford Explorer 4×4 to engage the cruise control when he joined the fast Eastern Freeway leaving Melbourne.

A touch of the brake or accelerator pedal should have put the car back into manual drive.

But when his slip road came up, the cruise control failed to disengage.

Chase’s terrifying journey led him through the streets of Melbourne to the suburb of Frankston, and now he had the police to help him after a frantic emergency call.

A van was despatched to get in front of him and, with sirens blaring, ensured that vehicles ahead were moved to other lanes.

His biggest fear as he struggled with the controls was what lay ahead.

Eventually he did run out of motorway and ended up in the suburb of Frankston.

Aided by his police escort, he passed through a busy road junction before reaching another highway – and the traffic jam.

‘There was traffic in every lane,’ he said. ‘I just didn’t just have anywhere to go.

‘I just put all my weight on that footbrake, pulled on the handbrake again, swerved on the wrong side of the road to avoid running into the back of everyone, went over the concrete road island and bounced a bit.

‘I could hear the tyres skidding on the road for what seemed like for ever.

‘When I opened my eyes, I was bonnet-to- bonnet with the car in front of me.’

Chase was taken to hospital suffering from shock.

The Explorer is sold in the U.S. and Australia.

A Ford Australia spokesman said the frozen cruise control was not an issue the company had encountered before.